Peripheral IV lab draws

[kimmie518]

I'm a new graduate nurse working in Peds (specifically the PICU with float to regular peds). My preceptor today stated that we can draw lab's off of an existing IV site. I've never heard of this. Does anyone have any information about it (ie., the risks, or depends on what fluid is running)?

Also feel free to give you're experiences if you have any.

[GrnHonu99, RN]

Work in the neuro ICU...we do it all the time. When you need labs, you need them..of course, id prefer to draw off a nice a line or a CL but unfort. not all pts have them. We generally use 18g PIV so if you have a good one you can easily draw off of it...i do agree though if you arent careful you will use your PIV. I stick a tournaquet on, stop all the MIVF or whatever is running in if you can....flush, draw off and discard-then draw...draw slow...............sometimes pulling the line back a tad helps the flow...may be different on kiddies though..i only work with adults.

[GrnHonu99, RN]

We have a specific policy to never draw from PICC lines but no policy against drawing from PIV's.

The only time we can draw from a PICC is if we are getting cultures looking for infection. Anybody else have a similar policy?

weird.

[Larry77, RN]

My understanding is it was a request by the vascular surgeons d/t possible compromise of the PICC which I have seen...not common but has happened.

If you aren't careful drawing from a PICC you can damage the one-way catheter tip on the end of it or draw up an already forming clot occluding the catheter.

[GrnHonu99, RN]

that can happen with a central line too...and you can damage the wall of a regular vessel with a PIV if you arent careful.